by Editors, USA TODAY

by Editors, USA TODAY

The Boston Red Sox tied up the World Series with a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals thanks to strong pitching and a three-run homer from left fielder Jonny Gomes. The win guarantees at least a Game 6 and a possible Game 7 in Boston's Fenway Park. Game 5 will feature a rematch between aces Jon Lester and Adam Wainwright tonight in St. Louis.

U.S. denies Obama knew of Merkel spying

The National Security Agency Sunday denied German media reports that President Obama was told in 2010 of NSA spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel and allowed it to continue. On Sunday, the German tabloid Bild am Sonntag, citing unnamed intelligence sources, reported that Obama was told by Gen. Keith Alexander, the NSA director, in 2010 that Merkel's phone was being tapped and that Obama allowed it to continue.

Federal workers must pay back jobless benefits

The federal government shutdown cost taxpayers billions of dollars but at least a tiny fraction will be recouped: Federal employees will get paid just once - not twice - for not working. All federal employees who collected unemployment insurance during the 16-day shutdown will have to return the payments because the workers are also receiving back pay, the Labor Department said late last week.

Survey: Shutdown shrinks economists' optimism

The budget standoff in Congress is over for now, but the U.S. economy is likely to feel the hangover for some time. Two weeks after Washington's latest showdown, more than half of economists surveyed by USA TODAY - 56% - are less optimistic about growth prospects than they were three months ago. The survey of 41 top economists was conducted Oct. 23-24.